HEALTH WORKERS' UNIONS SUBMIT REPORT TO ILO ON VIOLATION OF UNION RIGHTS

ZAGREB, June 14 (Hina) - The Independent Union of Health, Pension and Disability Insurance and Welfare Workers of Croatia and the Croatian Union of Health, Social Care and Pension and Disability Insurance Workers on Thursday forwarded a report on the violation of union rights by the Croatian government to the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The two unions, joined in the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH), submitted the report through their international public services union association PSI (Public Services International). In the report the unions explain and provide arguments for their claims about the violation of Article 4 of ILO's Convention 98 by the Croatian government, whom they accuse of avoiding collective negotiations and unilaterally discontinuing the social dialogue with the trade unions. The statement is signed by union secretary Drazen Managic. The unions believe the International Monetary Fund has pressured the Croatian government "into cutting budgetary expenditure by regulating the wage policy of the public sector with unilateral decrees and decisions instead of collective agreements." The government has thus not only violated the international convention but caused damage to the social partnership, which, the unions claim, will prompt new protests and strikes. The statement also reads that "public statements by senior government officials have appalled health unions and proved that this government intends to build a highly neo-liberal economic and social system without consensus with the unions." The health unions expect the PSI to send a special mission to Croatia to investigate relations in the area of collective negotiations in Croatia. (hina) rml